Apparatus for handling bars



y 27, 1952 M. MORGAN 2,597,944

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING BARS Filed March 31, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet l JNVENTOR. Muss MORGAN dink/Q. @KW

ATTORNEY M y 1952 M. MORGAN 2,597,944

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING BARS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 31, 1949 ATTORNEY May 27, 1952 M. MO RGAN APPARATUS FOR HANDLING BARS 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 51 1949 INVENTOR, MYLES MORGAN ATTORNEY May 7, 1952 MQMORGANI 2,597,944

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING BARS Filed March 31, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 75% IN V EN TOR.

MYLES MORGAN 39 4O 62. y 4

ATTORNEY Patented May 27, 1952 APPARATUS FGR HANDLING BARS Myles Morgan, Worcester, Mass., assignor to Morgan Construction Company, Worcester, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application March 31, 1949, Serial No. 84,599

a furnace, from which they are discharged one at a time to the first stand of a rolling mill. The bars to be heated are deposited in a mass or pile near the furnace, usually by means of a crane, and this pile must be broken up and unscrambled so that one bar at a time may be delivered to the furnace. In the past this separation has required very arduous manual labor on the part of several workmen armed with tongs, hooks, and other hand tools. Such work is not only diflicult and expensive, but also dangerous because of the possibility the pile of bars may slide and avalanche without Warning.

The problem has been recognized, and an attempt atits solution is disclosed in the United States patent to Quinn, No. 1,889,039, granted November 29, 1932. The patented apparatus effected a reduction in the amount of manual labor required but it by no means eliminated such labor entirely; Considerable power was needed for its operation, and it was found that slabs could not be handled satisfactorily, since they would travel along one on top of the other.

It is accordingly one object of the invention to provide a dependable power actuated apparatus capable of breaking up a pile of metal bars and delivering them one at a time without any need of manual labor.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved conveying apparatus adapted to receive a group of metal slabs pil'ed one on top of another, and capable of separating the slabs and delivering them one at a time.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a power actuated bar separating and conveying apparatus which will be highly eflicient in its use of power.

With these and other objects in view, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention resides in the combination of parts set forth in the specification and covered by the claims appended hereto. Referring to the drawings illustrating one embodiinent of the invention and in which like reference numerals indicate like parts,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a bar handling apparatus, with certain parts broken way forclearness of illustration;

7 Claims. (01. 198 -219) Fig. 2 is a section through the apparatus on a somewhat larger scale than Fig. 1, the section being taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 33 of Fig.2;

Fig. 4 is a view showing one of the upper moving skids with its supporting and driving means;

Pig. 5 is a view showing one of the stationary skids and its supports;

Fig. 6 is a view showing one of the lower moving skids with its supporting and driving means; and

Figs. 7 to 17 inclusive are diagrammatic side elevations of the apparatus showing the progressive movement of slabs along the same.

As shown particularly in Fig. 1, the embodiment illustrated comprises a substantially horizontal conveyor 20 of known construction havingspaced horizontal rollers 2| driven by a main shaft 22 through bevel gearing 23, the shaft 22 being driven by a suitable source of power (not shown) under the control of the operator. A plurality of stationary skids 25 extend from one side of the conveyor 20 and at right angles therewith. These skids are preferably spaced several feet horizontally from one another, and the number required will depend upon the length of the longest bars to be handled. If four skids are provided as shown, and they are spaced at intervals of approximately eight feet, bars thirty feet long may be readily handled. As best shown in Fig. 5, the front end of each skid 25 (i. e. the end adjacent the conveyor 20) rests on a beam 26, and the rear end of each skid extends into a housing 2'! and rests on a plate 28. Two intermediate supports 31) and 3| are also provided for each skid. The rear portion of each skid 25 is provided with a substantially horizontal upper surface 32, which may be described as the receiving surface of the skid, since the pile of bars may be deposited thereon initially by a crane or other suitable means. In front of the receiving surface 32 there are provided on each skid three successively lower substantially horizontal upper surfaces 33, 34, and 35. An inclined surface 31 extends downwardly and forwardly from the receiving surface 32 to the surface 33. An inclined surface 38 extends downwardly and forwardly from the surface33 to a point slightly below the surface 34 and connected thereto by a shoulder 39 which preferably is perpendicular to the surface 38 to form a shallow right-angled notch Ml. Similarly, an inclined surface 42 extends downwardly and forwardly from the surface v34 to a point slightly substantially horizontal rear portion 41 (Fig. 4)

and a substantially horizontal front portion 48 which is the same distance below the surface 41 as the surface 33 of the stationary skid 25 is below the surface 32 thereof. The two surfaces 41 and 48 are connected by an upright shoulder 49. The front edges of the two surfaces 47 and 48 are located near the front edges of the surfaces 32 and 33 respectively of the stationary skid, as best shown in Fig. 2. The rear end of each skid 46 extendsinto the adjacent housing 21 and rests on a transverse roller which is supported by the plate 28. The skids 46 are supported near their front ends on a transverse horizontal beam 52 to which they are suitably secured, and this beam in turn is fastened to the upper ends of two spaced upright struts or columns 53. The lower ends of the struts 53 are pivotally connected to a pair of spaced aligned eccentrics 54 which are formed integral with a main horizontal shaft 55 (Fig. 3) rotatably supported in bearings 55. A reversible electric motor 58 (Fig. 1) is connected to the shaft 55 through a suitable speed-reducing mechanism 59. These various parts are so constructed and arranged that as the shaft 55 is rotated, the eccentrics 54 will cause points on the tops of the skids 46 to travel in closed paths, with approximately half of each path above and half below the tops of the stationary skids.

A lower moving skid 61 is located at one side of each stationary skid 25, preferably on the opposite side thereof from the corresponding upper moving skid 46. Each of these lower moving skids 6! has a top surface shaped to provide an approximately horizontal rear portion 62 (Fig. 6) and an approximately horizontal front portion 63 which is the same distance below the surface 62 as the surface 35 of the stationary skid 25 is below the surface 34 thereof. At the front of the surface 52 there is provided a shoulder 65 which leads downwardly to a recess 55 located behind the surface 63 and connected thereto by a short rearwardly facing shoulder 65. The front edges of the surfaces 62 and 63 are located near the front edges of the surfaces 34 and 55 respectively of the stationary skid, as best shown in Fig. 2. The front end portion 58 of each skid 6! is considerably lower than the surface 63 and extends beneath the conveyor 25. This portion 88 rests upon a transverse roller 69 which is supported by a plate 15. The rear ends of the skids 6| are supported on a transverse horizontal beam E2 to which they are suitably secured, and this beam in turn is fastened to the upper ends of two spaced upright struts or columns 13. The lower ends of the struts 13 are pivotally connected to a pair of spaced aligned eccentrics 14 which are formed integral with the shaft 55. The eccentrics 74 are displaced 180 degrees with respect to the eccentrics 54, or in other words the two pairs of eccentrics are located on diametrically opposite sides or the axis of the shaft 55. Furthermore the throw of the eccentrics I4 is much greater than that of the eccentrics 54 and preferably about twice that of the latter. In one particular embodlinent of the invention a throw of 1% inches has been provided for the eccentrics and a throw of 2 /2 inches for the eccentrics 14, thus providing horizontal movements of 2%; inches and 5 inches for the upper and lower skids respectively. The surfaces 52 and G3 are parallel with one another, but they have a downward and rearward inclination, particularly when the cocentrics T4 are in their lowermost positions, as shown in Fig. 2. This inclination is preferably such that while a point on the front edge of the surface 53. moves equal distances above and below the surface during the rotation of the shaft 55, a point on the'surface 62 moves a less distance above the surface 34 than below the same. Consequently the amount of horizontal travel imparted to a bar at each rotation of the shaft will increase continuously as the bar progresses forwardly along the surface 34 and 35. This aids in obtaining the desired separation of bars as they approach the conveyor 20.

In order to make possible the required control over the bars, I preferably provide retractable means or abutments for blocking forward travel of the bars along the upper or receiving surfaces 32 of the stationary skids 25. For this purpose bell crank levers N3 (Fig. 2) are fulcrumed on certain of the skids 25 by means of pins Tl, these levers having upwardly projecting hooks "18 there on. Fluid actuated motors are connected to the levers i5 so that the levers may be turned about the pins l'i, under the control of the operator, to move the hooks 58 either above or below the skid surfaces 32.

The operation of the invention will now be described. While bars of many different shapes and sizes may be handled, slabs-present much greater difficulties than billets. Not only do slabs tendtotravel along broadside one on top of the other, which is not so serious a problem with billets, but the slabs are often much heavier than billets. Thus a steel slab 2 inches thick, 16 inches wide, and 3-3 feet long will weigh approximately 3220 pounds. This is a comparatively small slab. and yet it obviously cannot be shifted around very readily by manual labor. For these reasons, in the description of the operation, the emphasis will be placed upon the handling of slabs.

Referring first to Fig. 2, a group of fifteen slabs has been shown as deposited on the apparatus by suitable means, such as an overhead crane (not shown). Since the upper moving skids 46 are shown in their raised positions, the slabs are resting upon them, but if these skids were in their lowered positions the slabs would of course rest upon the surfaces 32 of the stationary skids 25. While the slabs may be grouped in various ways, they are shown arranged in three laterally adjacent piles with five slabs in each pile. The operator will first raise the hooks 18 by means of the motors 85 and then start the main shaft 55 rotating in a forward direction. At each rotation of the shaft, the skids 45 will lift the slabs, carry them forwardly, and set them down on the stationary skids 25. As the group of slabs reaches the raised hooks 18, further for ward travel will be blocked, and the slabs will be squared up or brought into exact right-angular relationship with the skids, whereupon the operator will lower the hooks 18. As the rotation of the main shaft continues, the advancing movement of the entire group of slabs will continue until the first pile of slabs slides down thein cline 31 onto the surface 33, as indicated in Fig. 7. At this point it is desirable to raise the hook 18 again, and hold back the two remaining piles in order to effect a better separation of the slabs. It will be noted that the two topmost slabs and 2 of the first pile have slid along the surface 33, while the three remaining slabs 3, 4 and 5 of this pile have shingled forwardly and are partially supported one on the other. Upon continued operation of the apparatus, the first slab will slide down the incline 38 and drop into the notch 40, as shown in Fig. 8. This will take place when the upper skids 46 are raised and moving forwardly. Since the eccentrics 14 are displaced 180 degrees from the eccentrics 54, the lower skid 6| will at this same instant be loweredand moving rearwardly, hence the surface 52 thereof will be below the notch 4|] and will not interfere with the entrance of the slab into this notch. Once a slab has reached the notch 40, it will from then on be under the control of the lower skids 5| rather than the upper skids 46. In Fig. 9 the lower skids have moved the first slab out of the notch 40 and along the stationary skid surface 34 nearly to the end thereof, while the upper skids have deposited the slab 2 in the notch 40. In Fig. 10 the lower skids have moved the slab 2 out of the notch 40 and deposited the slab in the notch 44. By this time the upper skids 48 have advanced the three shingled slabs 3, 4 and 5 an appreciable distance along the skid surface 33, and the operator will lower the hooks I8 to release the second pile of five slabs. In Fig. 11

the lower skids 6| have lifted the slab I out of by engagement with the slab 5, which was orig-.

inally at the bottom of the first pile. The hooks 13 have again been raised in order to hold back the third pile of slabs. In Fig. 12 the slab I has slid down the incline 45 onto the conveyor rollers 2|, which will be placed in operation to deliver the slab longitudinally to a heating furnace or other apparatus associated with the conveyor.

Ordinarily the movement of the skids 46 and 5! will be stopped during the operation of the conveyor rollers 2|. In Fig. 13 the hooks 18 have been lowered, all the slabs have been moved forwardly by the action of the moving skids, and the third pile of slabs is slightly overhanging the rear edge of the surface 32. In Fig. 14 the third pile of slabs has slid ,down the incline 31 in the desired forwardly shingled formation. The slab 6, which was originally the top slab of the second pile, has dropped into the notch 40. In Fig. 15 the slab 2 has reached the conveyor rollers 2|, and the slab 4 has slid down the incline 42 and been stopped by its engagement with the shoulder 66 of the moving skid 6|, which is in its raised position such as to overlap the notch 44. The slab B has been lifted out of the notch 43 and has slid forwardly into contact with the slab 5. At any time now additional piles of slabs may be placed on the receiving surface 32, although such additional piles have not been illustrated. In Fig. 16 the slab 5 has dropped into the notch 44, the slab 1 has caught up with the slab 6 (by sliding forwardly as it is lifted out of the notch 40) the slab 8 has dropped into the notch 40, and the slab 3 is resting flatwise on the slab II], which 6 is supported on the surface 48 of the upper mov ing skid. In Fig. 17 the slab 3 has reached the conveyor roller 2|, the slab 6 has descended to the surface 35, and the slab 8 has moved-from the notch 401 onto the surface 34. .The slab III, with the slab 9 supported thereon, has dropped into the notch 40 and been stopped abruptly by its engagement with the shoulder 39 thereof,

while gravity and the momentum of the super-v imposed'slab 9 has caused the latter to slide for-' wardly relative to the slab l0 and into contact with the slab 8 in front thereof. By the 'continued operation of the moving skids, slabs may:

or 44. At the same time any superimposed slab' will be carried forwardly by gravity and its own momentum as the lower slab is suddenly stopped, so that the desired separation of the slabs may be brought about.

The length of the inclined surfaces 38 and 42 is not critical, but it is preferably greater than half the width of the slabs to be handled, sothat the slabs may engage the shoulders-39 and 43 properly. The width of these shoulders is preferably less than the thickness of the slabs to behandled, so that only one slab at a time will be retained by the shoulders. The surfaces 31, 33 and 42 are sufiiciently inclined to ensure downward sliding of the slabs over the same. If the lower moving skids 6| are in their raised posi-- tions when a bar slides down the surfaces 42, so that the notches 44 are rendered ineffective to stop such bar, it will nevertheless be stopped by its engagement with the shoulders 56, as shown in Fig. 15. The opposed relationship of the eccentrics 54 and 14 helps to balance and reduce the load on the driving motor, for during such time as the eccentrics '54 are lifting the upper skids 46 and the bars thereon, the eccentrics 14 will be lowering the lower skids 6| and the bars thereon, and vice versa. The increased throw of the eccentrics 14, as compared with the throw. of the eccentrics 54, provides a greater step-by-step travel for the bars along the front portions of the stationary skids than along the rear portions thereof. This is important in obtaining the desired separation of the bars so that they may be delivered one at a time to the conveyor rollers 2 I.

It will be apparent that the invention makes it possible to handle heavy metal bars in a very efficient manner without requiring any appreciable manual labor. Even superimposed slabs can be separated from one another. While two sets of moving skids are employed, they are driven from a common shaft, so that the manufacturing cost of the apparatus is not excessive.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus for handling bars comprising a plurality of horizontally spaced parallel stationary skids adapted to support generally horizontal bars extending transversely thereof, each skid being shaped to provide two bar-supporting surfaces one of which is in front of the other and at a lower elevation, upper moving skids laterally adjacent to the upper bar-supporting surfaces f th statio ar skids. lower movin skids laterally adjacent to the lower bar-supportin surfaces of the stationary skids, a horizontal rotatable shaft extending transversely beneath the stationary skids, eccentrics on the shaft, means pivotally connecting the front portions of the upper moving skids to the eccentrics, other eccentrics on the shaft, means pivotally connecting the rear portions of the lower moving skids to the said other eccentrics, means supporting the rear portions of the upper moving skids, and means supporting the front portions of the lower moving skids.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, in which the first mentioned eccentrics are displaced approximately 180 degrees from the said other eccentrics.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, in which the throw of the first mentioned eccentrics is appreciably less than that of the said other eccentrics.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, in which each stationary skid also has an inclined surface leading downwardly and forwardly from the upper surface to a notch slightly below the level of the lower surface, and in which the first mentioned eccentrics are displaced approximately 180 degrees from the said other eccentrics, so that when the upper moving skids are raised and traveling forwardly to start a bar down the said inclined surfaces the lower moving skids will be beneath the notches and the notches will be open to receive the bar.

5. Apparatus for handling bars comprising a plurality of horizontally spaced parallel stationary skids adapted to support generally horizontal bars extending transversely thereof, each skid being shaped to provide four bar-supporting surfaces positioned suceessively one in front of the other and at successively lower elevations, upper moving skids laterally adjacent to the stationary skids and arranged to move bars broadside forwardly with a step-by-step movement along the first or uppermost and the second bar-supporting surfaces, lower moving skids laterally adjacent to the stationary skids and arranged to move bars broadside forwardly with a step-by-step movement along the third and fourth bar-supporting surfaces, a horizontal rotatable shaft extending transversely beneath the stationary skids, two aligned eccentrics on the shaft, means pivotally connecting the front portions of the upper moving skids to the eccentrics, two other aligned eccentrics on the shaft having an appreciably greater throw than the first mentioned eccentrics and displaced approximately degrees-therefrom, means pivotally connecting the rear portions of the lower moving skids to the said other eccentrics, means supporting the rear Portions of the upper moving skids, and means supporting the front portions of the lower moving skids.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5, in which each stationary skid is shaped to provide an inclined surface leading downwardly and forwardly from the first bar-supporting surface to the second barsupporting surface, an inclined surface leading downwardly and forwardly from the second bar-supporting surface to a notch slightly below the level of the third baresupporting surface, and an inclined surface leading downwardly and forwardly from the third bar-supporting surface to a notch slightly below the level of the fourth bar-supporting surface, and in which the upper surface of each lower moving skid is provided with a rearwardly facing shoulder located adjacent to the last-mentioned notch and arranged to stop bars sliding down the last-mentioned inclined surfaces when the lower moving skids are in the upper portion of their travel orbit.

'7. Apparatus for handling bars comprising a plurality of horizontally spaced parallel stationary skids adapted to support generally horizontal bars extending transversely thereof, each skid being shaped to provide two bar-supporting surfaces one of which is in front of the other and at a lower elevation, upper moving skids associated with the stationary skids and constructed to move bars broadside forwardly along the upper surfaces with a step-by-step movement. lower moving skids separate from the upper moving skids associated with the stationary skids and constructed to move bars broadside forwardly along the lower surfaces with a step-by-stcp movement, and driving means for the moving skids such that the lower moving skids will produce an appreciably greater movement of the bars than the upper moving skids.

MYLES MORGAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,775,121 Einfeldt Sept. 9, 1930 1,889,039 Quinn Nov. 29, 1932 

